Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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KEITH ?OP THE BORDER A TALE OF THE PLAINS By RANDAU PAARBH Of"? LADY Or THE SOUTH . ' "WMDI WIMM9JM WAS KING,- etc. by DtAlJOtN M1LV1LL. (U??/r\f fc?. A. O. kWawf C Co., 191*) CMAPTIR XX. Mep* Oese I? thertdsn. TV"? discovery of the lockot which had ?allow from about Keith's aock made It ; Impossible for Hope to remain quietly "?Or loaf In the hotel at Fort Larued. Tfce more carefully ehe thought over the etory of that murder rt the Clm seeron Croeeing. and Kelth'a tale of ; Ww he had discovered and burled the ' Mtl'Atod bod lee, the more aaaured etc became that that wae where tble lenket came from, and that the slain sVetghter most hare been her own fa? ther Bh?? never oooe questioned the truth of Keith's report; there wae that the man which would not per of ber doubting him He had rty failed to mention what he re red fion the bodies, supposing this would be of no special latereat Mrs. Murphy, hoping thus to quiet (fee apprehensions of her charge, set toreetf diligently at work to discover dee facts. As her house wae filled wtth transients. Including occasional rtsttona from Carson City, and w*e also lounging headquarters for many et the o(Boars from the near-by fort, eJfce experienced no difficulty In pick tag up all the floating rumors. Out of wtth Irish shrewdness, she soon iged to patch together a constst lt fabric of fact. "Saure, honey, It's not so bad the they tell It now," she explained, lingly "Nobody belaree now It yer father that got kilt It wae two fellers what stole his outfit, clothes an' all. an' was drlTtn' off wld I Asm Inter the sand hills. Dlv'.l a wan daws kaow who kilt 'em, but there's aeeae ugly stoiiee travelln' about fleas* says Injuns; some says the pot to run 'em down; an' Black Bart ?sf sde eirthy outfit they swear It was Keith OTys got me own notion An >w. there's 'bout three hundred some mules, an' a lot o' vel pfjte papers mtssln'" Tint If It wasn't father, where is he ssew*" That's what OTve been try In* ter out First off he want out to the iron Creasing, gyarded by a o' cavalry from the fort here, tmy Cains wint along an' told all about It They dug up the but alver a thing did they find 'em?not a paper, nor a dollar, r'd bin robbed all rolght The e*w1d Omeral swors lolke a wild mon all the way back. Tommy said, an' Che irst thing he did at Carson CUy was to start huntln' fsr 'Black Bart' Sc was two days glttln' on the trail av him: then he heard the feller was away trapsing after a stngln' or da' gynrl called Christie Maclalre. flee was supposed to be ayther at Twaeky or Sheridan A freighter told Che owld man she wae at Sheridan, an' **> he started there overland, hoptn' ?er heed off Black Bart' 01 reckon We could s towld mor'n that" "What do you mean?" "Why share, honey, what's tb* use ter decave me? Didn't Jack wld bis own lips, tell me ye wess Christie Maclalre'' "But I'm not! I'm not. Mrs. Mur jfcy I don't even know the woman. H Is such s strange thing; I cannot amount for 1*?both those men mis ere for her. sod?and I let them. In t care who the man Hawley aup me to be. but I Intended to have Mr Keith he waa mistaken. I know why I didn't, only I sup he finally understood But I It you to believe, Mrs Murphy? I asa Hope Waits, aad not Christie "ITe little the lose to re not ter be fear, an' OI'm thlnkln' lolkely Jack Keith ?rill be molghty well plased ter awow the truth What's Black Bart as) aygsr ter git hold a* this Maclalre '1 far?" 1 do not In the least know. He have Induced one to go to that tH the desert believing me to be l otacr woman Tet he said noth ; of any purpose. Indeed, he found opportunity " Mrs Murphy shook ber head dls lagly It was share som* dlvtlment." she lerted. stoutly He'll b* up to trick wld the poor g>url. Ol the lolkes at him Shure. the two av yes muat look as much alotke aa two pay** n a pod l?lkely now, ftw a twin slater ye've got? Hope smiled, although her eyes wer? misty "Oh. no Fted and 1 *er* the only children, but what shall I do' What ought i to do r The Irish mouth of Kate Murpny eat firmly. h? r bine eyes burning "It's not athroug Ol am on advtaln." aha said, shortly, "but If It was me Ofd be far folndln' out what sll this asta-ep was about. There's eomethln' aaofg'aty ouar* In It ft'f my lotion G at Hawtev's got hold av ?hirn paper ? av y?*r father 1 The owid g.ht tajhi ? ea\ too. an' that'a why he's mo n afther catchln" him Ml Ihr!I ?dmoire me av <d kjK>U *)tf>rt< this Maclslre gyurl comes In. bul OIH I the black dlvll has get h?*r marl 1 far aom* pert in the play VV . would CM do1 N go 0 t BwWrldan. an" foind the Gin oral 01 him all I knew Mav piece It togetner. and' guess what Hawley was up tar.** Hope was already upon hsr feel, her pusiled face brightening. "Oh. that is ?hat I wanted to do but I was not iure It would he best. How can I get there from here?" Dont B? Nervous? I'll gee You Maki ths Hotsl All Right.** Te'd hare ter take the stage hack j to Topeky; lolkely they'd be runnin 1 tnraios out from there on the new road. It'll be alsy for me ter folnd out from some st the lads down be? low " The only equipment operating lato Sheridan waa a construction train, with an old battered passenger coach coupled to the rear. A squad of heavily aimed Infantry rode along, as protection against possible Indian j raiders, hat there waa no crowd aboard on this special trip, as all construction work had been suspended on the line Indefinitely, and most of the travel, therefore, had changed to ? the eastward. Ths coach used had a partition run through it, and, as soon as the busy trainmen discovered ladles on hoard, they unceremoniously drove the more bibulous passengers, protesting, Into the forward compart? ment This left Hope la comparative ? peace, her remaining neighbors quiet, taciturn men, whom she looked at through the folds of her roll during the long, alow, exasperating Journey, mentally guessing at their various oc? cupations. It was an exceedingly tedi? ous, monotonous trip, ths train alack* , ening up, and jerking forward, sppar ently without slightest reason; then occasionally achieving a full stop, while men, always under guard, went ahead to fix up some hit of damaged track, across which the engineer eared not advance. At each bridge spanning ths numerous small streams, trainmen examined the structure be fore venturing forvard, and at each atop the wearied psssengers grew more Impatient and sarcastic, s per feet stream of fluent profanity being wafted back whenever the door be? tween the two sections chanced to be 19ft ajsr. Hope was not the only woman on board, yet a glance at the others was sufficient to decide their status, even hsd thslr freedom of msnner and loud talking not made it equally obvious. Fearful lest she might be mistaken for one of the same class, she re? mained In silence, her veil merely lifted enough to enable her to po- r out through the grimy window at the barren view slipping slowly past This consisted of the bare prairie, brown 1 and desolate, occasionally intersected by some small watercourse, the low | hills rising and failing like waves to ths fsr horizon Few Incidents broke the dead monotony; occasionally a herd of antelope sppeared In the dls- , tsnce. silhouetted sgalnst the Sky? line, and once they fairly crept for an hour through a mass of buffalo, graz? ing so close that a fusillade of guns sounded from the front end of the trsln. A little farther along she caught a glimpse of a troop of wild horses dsshlng recklessly down Into a shel- | coring ravine Tet principally all j that met her straining eyes was ster? ile desolation. Here and there a great ' ur'.y water tank reared its hideous , shape beside the track, the engine al? ways pausing for a fresh supply. Be? side It was Invariably a pils of coal, a few construction cars, a hut hair buried uuder earth, loop-holed and barricaded, with several rough men loafing about, heavily armed and in? quisitive a fsw of these points had once been terminal, the surrounding scenery evidencing past glo.ies by piles of tin cam. snd all nranner of 1 debris, with occasionally a vacant sback. left deserted and forlorn Wearied and heartsick, Hope turned away from this outside dreariness to contemplate more closely her neigh bora on Ixmrd. hut found t hern scarce? ly more Interesting. Several were plsylng cards, others moodily stating out of the windows, while a few were laughing and talking with the girls, thslr conversation Inane and punctu? ated ?Ith profanity One man was figuring on a scratch pail, and Hope <n<-lded be must be an engineer em? ployed on th<- lino; others she <>Uwa*? (1 a? isnall merchants, aaloon-keeper . and frontlet riff-raff They would glance curiously at hat a* they man h??d up and down the nurrow ils'.e. but her veil, and averted face, p roe SU) tod "\en 'he !.<>Me . from Kix-aking Once sddrocaoi lbs 'or. and the man who SJSI fig urlng turned and looked bsci at her, ? rldeatlj attracted by 'he aoil note ( I her Voice Hut ho mad" no effort at edvara*?.?, returning Immediately to hi.H gad, ol Melone to ?>\ oiss ft war* I OtftBf dark the outsldS UOrid, BOW consisting of leved plains, fading Into dorkn*??!H. with a U \s great star* burning OTSrhSSd Trainmen lit the fsw ItUOkinf oil lampt screwed against the sides or me car. ana its ! occupants became little more than | dim shadows. All by this time were fatigued into alienee, and several were asleep, finding such small comfort aa j was possible on the cramped seats. ! Hope glanced toward the heretofore noisy group at the rear?the girl near? est her rested with unconscious head j pillowed upon the shoulder of her , man friend, and both were sleeping. How haggard and ghastly the wom? an's powdered face looked, with the light just above it, and all semblance of Joy gone. It was as though a mask had been taken off. Out In the dark a?<s* tae engine whistled snarpiy ana men came to a bumping Btop at Borne desert station. Through the black window a few lantern? could be seen flickering abont, and there arose the sound of gruff voices speaking. The sleepers Inside, aroused by the sharp stop, roiled over and swore, seeking easier pocturea. Then the front door opened, and slammed that, and a new passenger entered. He came down the ejelti glancing carelessly at the upturned faces, and finally sank Into the *eat directly opposite Hope. He wa"* a broad shouldered man. his coat buttoned to the throat. with strong face showing clearly beneath the broad h:U brim am! lighted Up with a pair of shrewd, kindly eyej. The ooa auetor c-<.me th-ough, nodded at him. sod passed on. Hope thought be must be some official of the road, and ventured to break the prolonged si? lence with s question: "Could you tell me how long It will be before we reach Sheridan?" She had partially pushed aside her veil in order to speak more clearly, and the man. turning at sound of her voice, took off his hat, his searching eyes quizzical. "Well, no, I cant, madam." ths words coming with a Jerk. "For I'm not st all eure well keep the track. Ought to make It in an hour, however, if everything goes right. Live in Sheri? dan!" She shook her head, uncertain how frankly to answer. j "No loss to you?worst place to live In on earth?no exceptions?I know been there myself three months?got friends there likely?** "I hardly know," she acknowledged doubtfully. "I think so, but I shall I have to hunt some place in which to stay tonight Can you tell me of some ?some respectable hotel, or boarding j house r The man wheeled about, until ha could look at her more clearly. "That's a pretty hard commission, MUi," hs returned uneasily. "There may be auch a place In Sheridan, but I have never found it Old Mother Shattuck keeps roomers, but she won't have a woman In the house. I reckon you'll have to try It at the hotel?1*11 get you In there It I have to mesmerize the clerk?you'll find It a bit noisy though.'* "Oh, I thank you so much. I don't mind the noise, so It is respectable." He laughed, good humoredly. "Well, I don't propose to vouch for that?the proprietor eint out there for his health?but, I reckon, you won't have no serious trouble?the boys mostly know a good woman when they see one?which isn't often ?anyhow, they're liable to be decent enough as long as I vouch for you." "Lut you know nothing of me." "Don't need to?your face is enough ?Hi get you the room all right." She hesitated, then asked: "Are yon?are you connected with the railroad?" "In a way. yes?I'm the contract surgeon?had to dig a bullet out of a water-tank tender back yonder?fei? low bowled as though I was killing him?no nerve?mighty poor stuff most of the riff-raff out here?ball was n't in much below the skin?In? dian must have plugged him from the top of the bluff?blame good shot too ?ragged looking alug?like to see it?" She shook her head energetically "Don't blame you?nothing very un? common?get a dozen cases like it a day sometimes?stay In Sheridan, show you something worth while? very pretty surgical operation to-mor? row?come round and get you if you care to see it?got to open the stom? ach?don't know what I'll find?like to go*" "Oh. no! I'm sure you mean It all kindly, but?but I would rather not." "Hardly supposed you would?only knew one woman who cared for that sort of thing much?she was nursing for me during the war?had a hail i Hp and an eye like a dagger?good nurse though ?rather have your kind , round me?-ever nurse any? Could get you a dozen Jobs In Sheridan? | new prospects every night?fifty do* lars a week?what do you say?" "But I'm not seeking work, Doctor* smiling in Bpite of her bewilderment "I have money enough with me." "Well. I didn't know?thought rnaT he you wanted a Job. and didn't like tO ask for it?hnve known 'em like that?nO harm dune?if you ever do want anything like that. Just corne tc me?my name's Palrbain?everybody ! knows me hero?operated on most ol 'em rest expect to be? Damn thai enrineor' don't believe he knows whether he's going ahead or backing, on" Ha peered out of the window, pressing his race hard against tha I >ss. "I reckon that's Sheridan he's srl M- ? v now d"in't be nervous? I'll aeo you mnks th*? hotel all ri^ht/ CHAPTER XXI. The Marshal of 8heridan. It was called a depot merely through courtesy, consisting of i layer ein? ders, scattered promlaOUOUSly so a.^ to partially conceal the underlying mud, and ? dismantled box cur. in which presided ticket agent and telegrapher, A hun4red yards below was tho big ?hack whore the railroad ofBelaU lodged.' across th?? tra'cka bluzod In? vitingly the "First Chance" sulo?>n. Ml intervening tpace was crowded with men surging aimlessly about in the flare Ol a locomotive bead light, "Any Other Room You Could Converv iently Assign Mr.?ah?Mont- | gomery to Tommy?" I and greeting the alighting p3??:en?ere with free and easy badinage, Stranger or acquaintance made no difference, j the welcome to Sheridan was noisily extended, while rough play and hoarse laughter characterized the mass. Hope paused on the step, even as Dr. Pairbain grasped her hand, dinned by the mediey of discordant sounds, and confused by the vociferous jam of humanity. A band came tooting down the street in a hack, a fellow, with a voice like a fog horn, howling j on the front seat. The fellows at the side of the car surged aside to get a glimpse of this new attraction, ana Falrbaln, taking quick advantage 01 the opportunity thus presented, swung his charge to the cinders below. Bena- , ing before her, and butting his great shoulders into the surging crowd, ha succeeded in pushing a passage through, thus finally bringing her forth to the edge of the street "Hey, there," he said shortly, grab- , bing a shirt-sleeved individual by the arm. "Where's Charlie?" The fellow looked at him wonder* i lngly. j "Charlie? Oh, you mean the Kid?' j Well, he ain't here tor-night; had a i weddln'. an' is totln' the bridal couple 'round." | Falrbaln swore discreetly under his breath, and cast an uncertain glance at tho slender figure shrinking beside him. The streets of Sheridan were not over pleasant at night. i "Only hack in town Is somewhere else, Miss," he explained briefly. "I reckon you and I will have to hoof It" | He felt the grip of her fingers on b'.i sleeve. "The boys are a little noisy, but it's Just their way?don't mean anything? you hang on to me, an' keep the veil down?we'll be there in the shako of a dog'a tail." He helped her over the muddy crossing, and as they reached a stretch of board walk, began expatiating on the various places lining the way. I "That's the 'Mammoth* over there dance hall back of it?biggest thing I west of the Missouri?three men killed there last week?what for? Oh, they got too fresh?that's the 'Casino,* and the one beyond is 'Pony Joe's Place' ?cut hlii leg off since I've been here ?fight over a girl. Ain't there any Stores??sure; they're farther back? >ou see the saloons got in first?that's *8heeny Mike's' gambling joint >ou're looking at?like to go over ai?d see 'em play? Ail right, Just thought I'd ask you?it's early anyhow, and things wouldn't be goin' very lively yet Say, | there, you red head, what are you try? ing to dor* i The fellow had lurched out of the crowd In such a manner as to brush partially aside the girl's veil, per? mitting the glare of "Sheeny Mike's" lights to fall full upon her revealed face. It was accomplished so openly as to appear planned, but before he could reel away again, Falrbaln struck j out, and the man went down. With an oath he was on his feet, and Hope { cowered back against her protector. Each man had weapons drawn, the crowd scurrying madly to keep out of | the line of fire, when with a stride, a new figure stepped quietly In between them. Straight as an arrow, broad shouldered, yet small waisted as a woman, his hair hanging low over his coat-collar, his face smooth shaven except for a long moustache, and emotionless, the revolvers in bis belt untouched, he simply looked at the two, and then struck the revolver out of the drunken man's hand. It fell harmless to the ground. "And don't you pick it up until I tell you, Soott" he said quietly. "If you do you've got to fight mo." Without apparently giving the fel? low another thought be whotded and faced the others. 'Oh. it's you, la it Doctor? The drunken tool won't make any more trouble. Where were you taking the ladyr "To the hotel, Rill." "1*11 walk along with you. I reckon the boys will give us plenty of room." He glnnced over the crowd, and then more directly ;?t ?>< ol t "Pick up yoi;r gun'" the brief words snapping out. "This is the second time I've caught you hunting trouble. Tic re <t time you are going to find it. 1 saw you run into this lady -what did you do it for'.' "1 only wanted to see who ahe was, BUI." "You needn't call me Hin. 1 dont trot In your clasa My name i* Hlokock to you. Was it any of your ii. a t e ho she was?" Hl reckoned I know*d her, and I did." [Tie i tarsbal turned bis eyes toward Hope, and tben back Upon Scott, evi? dently slightly Interested. ?So? Recognized an old friend. I Ths alight sneer Ig "Wild BUI'S* soft voice caused Sowt to flame up In 6u<lPVn passion. "No, I didn't! but I called the turn Ju: f the same?she's Christie Mac lairo."' The marshal smiled. "Ali right, little boy," he said sober? ly "Now you trot straight alor * to bed. Don't let me catch you on the street again tonight, and I'd advise you not to pull another gun?you're too slow on the trigger for this tow a, Corns along, Doctor, and we'll get iiiss Meclaire to her hotel." He shouldered his way through fhe COl'scted crowd, the other following. Hope endeavored to speak, to explain to Fairbain who she actually was, real? ising then, for th* first time, that hau rot previously given hirn her no*- e. Amidst the Incessant noise and confusion, the blaring of brats, and the jangle of voices, she found It impossible to make the mar. compre? hend. She pressed closer to him. hold? ing mcr-? tightly to his arm. ?tunned and contused by the fierce uproar. The eirniip -r steadily pushing ahead of them, ami opening a fata tir their pi* sage, fascinated her, and her eyes watched him curiously. His name ws? an oddly familiar one, associated in vague memory with some of the most desperate deeds ever witnessed in the West, yet always found on the side of law and order; it was difficult to con? ceive that this quiet-spoken, mild-eyed, gently smiling man could indeed be the most famous gun fighter on the border, hated, feared, yet thoroughly respected, by every desperado be? tween the Platte and the Canadian. Beyond the glare and glitter of the Metropolitan Dance Hall the noisy crowd thinned away somewhat, and the marshal ventured to drop back be? side Fairbain, yet vigilantly watched every approaching face. "Town appears unusually lively to? night, Bill," observed the latter grave? ly, "and the boys have got an early start." "West end graders Just paid off," was the reply. "They have been whoopln' it up ever since noon, and are beginning to get ugly. Now the rest of the outfit are showing up, and there will probably be somethrng In? teresting happening before morning. Wouldn't mind It so much if I had a single deputy worth his salt" "What's the matter with Bain?" "Nothing, while he was on the Job, but 'Red' Haggerty got him in 'Pony Joe's' shebang two hours ago; shot him in the back across the bar. Ned never even pulled his gun." "I'm sorry to hear that; what be? came of Haggerty?" The marshal let his eyes rest quea tloningly on the doctor's face 'or an Instant. "Well, I happened to be Just behind Ned when he went," he said gently, "and 'Red' will be burl?d on 'Boots Hill' to-morrow. I'm afraid I don't give you much chance to show your skill. Doc," with a smile. "If they all shot like you do, my profession would be useless. What's the matter with your other deputies?" "Lack of nerve, principally, I reck? on; ain't one of 'em worth the powder to blow him up. I'd give something just now for a fellow I had down at Dodge ?he was a man. Never had to tell him when to go in; good Judgment too; wasn't out hunting for trouble, but always ready enough to take his share. Old soldier In our array. Cap? tain. I heard, though he never talked much about himself; maybe you knew him?Jack Keith." "Well, I reckon," in quick surprise, "and what's more to the point, he's here?slept in my room last night" "Keith here? In Sheridan? And hasn't even hunted me up yet? That's like him, all right, but I honestly want to see the boy. Here's your hotel. Shall you need me any longer?" "Better step in with us, Bill," the doctor advi. ed. "your moral Influence might aid in procuring the lady a de? cent room." "I reckon ?* ? Mght." They passevi >gether up the three rickety steps leading into the front hall, which latter opened directly into the cramped office; to the left was the wide-open bar-room, clamorous and throbbing with life. A narrow bench stood against the wall, with a couple of half drunken men lounging upon It The marshal routed them out with a single, expressive gesture. "Wait here with the lady. Fairbain." he said ?hortly, "and I'll arrange for the room." They watched him glanee in at the bar. vigilant and cautio'.:, and then move directly across to the desk. "Tommy," he said genially to the clerk. "I've just escorted a lady here from the train?Miss Maelaire--and want you to give her the best room in your old shebang." The other looked at hlra doubtfully. "Hell. Bill, I don't know how I'm going to do that," he acknowledged. "She wrote In here to the boss tor a room; said she'd be along yesterday. Well, she didn't show up. an' so to? night wo let a fellow have if. He's up there now." "Well, he'll have to vamose?who is he'>" "English man?'Walter Spotteswood Montgomery,' " consul;ing his book. "Hell of B pompoua duck, 'he boys call him 'Juke Montgomery.'" "Ail right; aend come me op to rout his lordship out lively " Tommy, shuffled hi* feet, and looked again at the marshal: he had re* cetved positive orders about that room, and was fully convinced th?;t \I0nt4 ora< ry would not ti ke kh.d >? to eviction. But HIckock'B quiet g.av yei %'y : e Insistent "Here, 'Red/" he tlnully called to the burley porter, "hustle up to '15/ an1 tell thai fellow Montgomery he's got to ge.t out; tell hkn wo want the room for a lady." Hlckock watched the man disappear up the, stairs, helped himself carefully to a cigar out of the stand, tossing a coin to the clerk and then deliberately lighting up. "Think Montgomery win be pleased?" be asked shortly. ' "No; he'll probably throw "Red* down st; Irs." The marshal smiled, his glance turn? ing expectantly In that direction. "Then perhaps I had better remain, Tommy." And he strolled nonchalant? ly over to the open window, and stood there looking quietly out, a spiral of blue smoke rising from his cigar. They could distinctly hear the pounding on the door above, and oc? casionally the sound of the porter's voice, but the straight, erect figure at the window remained motionless. Finally "Red" came down, nursing bis knuckles. "Says he'll be damned if he will says he's gone to bed, an' that there ain't a cussed female In this blasted country he'd git up for," he reported circumstantially to the slerk. "He told me to tell you to go plumb to hell, an' that if any one else come poundln' "round thar to-night, he'd take a pot shot at 'em through the door. 'Fifteen' seemed a bit peevish, sir, an' I reckoned if he was riled \sn much more, he might git rambunc? tious; his language was sure fierce." "Wild Bill" turned slowly around, still calmly smoking, his eyes exhibit? ing mild amusement. "Did yoo clearly inform Mr.?ah? Montgomery that we desired the room for the use of a lady?" he questioned gently, apparently both pained and shocked. "I did, sir." *Tt surprises me to find one in our city with so little regard for the or? dinary courtesies of life, Tommy. Per? haps I can persuade the gentleman.** He disappeared up the stairs, taking them deliberately step by step, the cigar still smoking between his lips. "Red" called after him. . "Keaa away from in front of the door, Bill; he'll shoot sure, for he cocked his gun when I was ui there.** Hlckock glanced back, wared hie hand. I "Don't worry?tht> soom occupied fry I Mr.?ah?Montgomery waa *16,' I be? lieve you said?" Whatever occurred above, it was over with very shortly. Those listen? ing at the foot of the stairs heard the first gentle rap on the door, an out? burst of profanity, followed almost Instantly by a sharp snap, as If a lock had given way, then brief scuffling mingled with the loud creak? ing of a bed. Scarcely a minute later the marshal appeared on the landing above, one hand firmly gripped In the neck-band of an undershirt, thus se? curely holding the writhing, helpieea figure of a man, who swore violently every time he could catch his breath. "Any other room you could convon veniently assign Mr.?ah?Montgom? ery to. Tommy? he asked pleasantly. "If he doesnt like It in the morning, he could be changed, you know." "Give?give him '47.'" "All light I'm the bell-boy tem? porarily, Montgomery; easy now, my man, easy, or IT1 be compelled to use both hands. 'Red,' carry the gen? tleman's luggage to '47'?he has kind? ly consented to give up his old room to a lady?come along, Montgomery.** It was possibly five minu.es later when he came down, still smoking, his face not even flushed. "Montgomery is feeling so badly we were obliged to lock him in," he reported to the clerk. "Seems to be of a somewhat nervous disposition. Well, good-night Doctor." be lifted bis hat. "And to you, Miss, pleasant dreams." Hope watched htm as he stepped outside, pausing a moment in the shadows to glance keenly up and down the long street before venturing down the steps. This quiet man had enemies, hundreds of them, desperate and reckless; ceaseless vigilance alone protected him. Yet her eyes only, and not her thoughts, were riv? eted on the disappearing marshal. She turned to Falrbaln, who had risen to his feet. "I wish I might see. him, also," she said, as though continuing an inter? rupted conversation, "See him? Who?" "Mr. Keith. I?I knew him once, and?and. Doctor, won't you tell him I should like to have bim come and see me Just?Just as soon as he can." CHAPTER XXII. An Interrupted Interview. Miss Christie Maclalre. attired in a soft lounging robe, her luxuriant hair wound simply about her head, forming a decidedly attractive picture, gazed with manifest dissatisfaction on the bare walls of her room, and then out through the open window Into the comparative quiet street below. The bar-tender at the "Palace." directly opposite, business being slack, was leaning negligently in the doorway. His roving eyes caught the fair face framed In the window, and he waved his hand encouragingly. Miss Chris? ties brown eyes stared across at him In silent disgust, and then wandered again about the room, her foot tapping nervously on the rug carpet. "It's my very last trip to this town." she said decisively, her red lips presped tightly together Miss Maclalre had indeed ample reason to feel aggrieved over her re ception. She had written to have the bi st apartment in Lh?> house reserved for her, and then, merely because she had later been Invited out to Fort Hays, and was consequently a day be hind in arrival, had discovered that another s omen- ?? base imposter, act? ually masquerading under her name had teen duly lrstalled In the coveted apartment Driving in from the fort that mcruing. accompanied by two of the more susceptible Junior officers, conscious that she had performed most artistic work the evening before in the spacious mess-hall, and feeling confident of comfortable quarters awaiting her. it had been something of Continued on page seven